Thermal circuit controller



Aug- 4, 1942- F. K. VAN ALMELO 2,292,019

THERMAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed April 22, 1941 l NVENTOR.

BYp f Y Patented Aug. 4, 1942 THERMAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Frederick Kunst van Almelo, Nassau, N. Y., as-

signor to Consolidated Car Heating Company, Inc., Albany, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 22, 1941, Serial No. 389,718

3- Claims. (C1. 20G-124) This invention relates to circuit controllers especially thermal circuit controllers and particularly thermal circuit controllers embodying a fusible part.

A principal object of this invention is the production of a device of the type specified which is adapted to be manually reset without the necessity of supplying an additional fusible part after the device has once operated.

A further object of the invention is the production of `a device of the type specified which `may be adjusted for open circuit or closed circuit operation and may be reset after operation by a simple manual operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing, and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is substantially a cross-sectional view, although some parts are shown in elevation, of a device embodying applicants invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the device as shown by Fig. l, viewed from the right hand end as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device as shown by Fig. 1 on the plane indicated by the line III- III of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device as shown by Fig. 1, on the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows 'at the ends of the line; Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the device as shown by Fig. 1 with some parts broken away to show a different position of a fusible metal than that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the functioning of the apparatus of Fig. 1 as applied to a closed circuit control; Fig. 7 is substantially a cross-sectional view with some parts in elevation, similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the positioning Aof the parts of the device for an open circuit control; Fig. 8 is a cross-,sectional View similar to the cross-.sectional View of Fig. 3, but taken of the device when arranged, as shown in Fig. 7, for open circuit use; Fig. 9 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the use of the device for open circuit control;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating another position of fusible metal therein.

Applicants device embodies a chamber I and, even if in the form of a cylinder has, what is, in effect, an upper wall 2 and a lower wall 3. This chamber may be formed by projecting the walls into a body of insulating material 4 in such wise that the body of insulating material will properly support and close one end of the chamber. The other end of the chamber may be closed in any suitable and appropriate manner as by a nat member 5 held suitably, as by spinning over the marginal material 6.

Into the chamber I, applicant projects a plurality of electrical conducting members such as l, El, 9 and I6 arranged in pairs as 'I and 8, and as S and I3. One of the pairs is arranged adjacent the upper wall 2 of the chamber and the other pair is arranged adjacent the lower wall 3 of the chamber. These electrical conducting members I to I0 inclusive are best supported, held and positioned by being inserted through the insulating body 4 as well shown in Fig. 1.

The insulating body 4 is formed with notches II and I2 at the opposite extremities of a diameter of the insulating body 4.

In order to support and position the insulating body 4, an insulating body positioning coupling nipple I3 is provided. This body I3 is formed with a recess I4 for the reception of the insulating body 4 and has a shoulder I5 limiting the movement in one direction of the insulating body 4 and is formed with an orifice I6 through which the walls of the chamber I extend.

When the insulating body 4 is positioned within the cavity I4 of the member I3 a rim I'I of the insulating body 4 also rests against a shoulder I8 of the body I3 and depending upon the position of insulating body 4 either the cut away portion II or the cut -away portion I2 receives the positioning n I9 forming part of or attached to the body I3. In Fig. 1 the notch I2 is shown as receiving the fin I9.

The nipple I3 is threaded at 20 so that it may be screwed into a screw threaded cavity in a position wherein the chamber I and the walls thereof are suitably exposed to thermal means to which the whole device is to respond.

The coupling nipple |'3 is also provided with screw threads 2l cooperating with screw threads on a coupling collar 22.

The coupling collar 22 engages the flange 23 of a somewhat U-shaped member 24 so as to bring the flange 23 of the U-shaped member 24 rmly against the end 25 of the coupling nipple I3 and so hold it in position.

Within the somewhat U-shaped member 24 is positioned insulating block 26 carrying spring pressed electrical conducting contacters 21 and 28 arranged in pairs corresponding to the spacing and positioning of the pairs such as 1 and 8, and 9 and I0. Each of these electrical conducting contacters is spring pressed by a spring, as 29, and is connected to a conductor, `as 30, and one, 21, is positioned to contact electrical conducting member 8 and the other to contact electrical conducting member 1, when in the position as shown in Fig. 1.

All of the parts may be assembled, as shown in Fig. l, with the exception of cap 5. When in such condition, a material, preferably a metallic alloy of suitable high conductivity, may be melted and run into the chamber I to take the position illustrated by the body 3| in Fig. 1. This material must be suitably electrically conducting and, if run in to occupy the position as shown, will electrically connect the electrical conducting members 1 and 8. This body of material 3| is to be a material which is fusible by heat of a predetermined degree and when fused flowable from adjacent the upper wall 2 of the device when it is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, to the lower wall 3, when subjected to the proper degree of heat. When the fusible material fuses and flows to the lower wall it disconnects or no longer electrically connects the electrical conducting members 1 and 8 but does flow around and electrically connect the electrical conducting members 9 and I0. It is positioned, after having melted and flowed to the lower wall 3, as shown in Fig. 5.

If the device is arranged as shown in Fig. l, and electrical connections are made as shown in Fig. 6, the device will act as a closed circuit device, that is, a circuit will be formed from the positive terminal of the source 32, through wire 33, relay 34, wire 30, and contact 21 to electrical conducting member 8, then through the body of electrical conducting material 3l to electrical conducting member 1 and thence by contact 28 and wire 36 to the negative terminal of the source. Current travelling in the above traced path will energize the relay coil 34 and cause its armature 31 to be moved to the upper position and held therein, as shown in Fig. 6, so that it does not make contact with the contacting pin 38. If the device, under such conditions, is subjected to the predetermined degree of temperature, the body of fusible electrical conducting material 3| will melt and no longer electrically connect the electrical conducting members 1 and 8 so that the last above traced circuit will be broken, the relay armature 31 will fall and a circuit will be closed to ring the bell 39.

It will be noted that when the device is used as a circuit controller for a closed circuit that the insulating block 26 is in the position as shown in Fig. l with electrical conducting contact 21 in contact with electrical conducting member B. Block 26 is provided with two diametrically opposed notches 40 and 4| each of which may be positioned to receive the :nn I9 on coupling nipple I3 and so be positioned and when the device is to be used as a closed circuit device the parts may be positioned as shown in Fig. 3, but when the device is to be used as an open circuit device the parts will be positioned as shown in Fig. 8. In such case the electrical conducting contacts 21 and 28 will contact the electrical conducting members 9 and |'0 and the parts will be in the position as shown in Fig. 7. Under such conditions the alarm 43 of Fig. 9 will not be sounded but when the fusible electrical conducting material 3| is subjected to the proper temperature, it will melt, flow to the lower wall and electrically connect the members 9 and I0 and so close the circuit through the alarm 43.

Whether the device is to be used on the open circuit principle or the closed circuit principle the fusible material will always be placed, initially, adjacent the top wall 2 of the chamber when the circuit controller is positioned exposed to the desired thermal influence. After the fusible material has melted and flowed to the lower wall, whether the device is being operated upon the open circuit principle or the closed circuit principle, in order to reset the device, the coupling sleeve 22 is unscrewed so that access may be had to the insulating body 4 and that body 4 is then moved rotatively through 180 and then all parts put together again as shown. If being used on the closed principle, as shown in Fig. 1, if used on the open circuit principle, as shown in Fig. 7.

In the above description it can be seen that applicant has provided a thermal circuit controller which may be used either on the open circuit principle or the closed circuit principle and that it embodies a body of fusible electrical conducting material which is positioned initially at a higher point, and after being subjected to a predetermined temperature and caused to fuse and flow will then be positioned at a lower point and that to reset the device to operate initially it is merely necessary to rotate the member through Although I have particularly described the particular physical embodiments of my invention and explained the operation, construction and principle thereof, nevertheless, I desire to have it understood that the forms selected are merely illustrative but do not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A thermal circuit controller, including, in combination: a container provided with two connecting chambers, one of said chambers being a fusible metal containing chamber, and the other of said chambers an insulating body containing chamber, said insulating body container chamber being provided with means for positioning an insulating body in one position and in another position 180 rotatively removed therefrom; an insulating body positioned in said insulating body chamber and provided with means cooperating with the insulating body positioning means of said insulating body chamber; a plurality of electrical conducting members carried by said insulating body, said conducting members arranged in pairs and one pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the upper wall thereof and the other pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the lower wall thereof in one position of said insulating body and being reversely positioned when said insulating body is rotated through an angle of 180 whereby the electrical conducting material will electrically connect one of the said pairs either when the body of conducting material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or when the conducting material has melted and has flowed to and is adjacent the lower wall of said container; means electrically connectable, alternatively, either to the upper pair of said electrical conducting members or the lower pair of said electrical conducting members whereby a circuit may be closed either when said meltable material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or adjacent the lower wall thereof.

2. A thermal circuit controller, including, in combination: a container provided with two connecting chambers, one of said chambers, a fusible metal containing chamber, and the other of said chambers an insulating body containing chamber, said insulating body container chamber being provided with means for positioning an insulating body in one position and in another position 180 rotatively removed therefrom; an insulating body positioned in said insulating body chamber and provided with means cooperating with the insulating body positioning means of said insulating body chamber; a plurality of electrical conducting members carried by said insulating body, said conducting members arranged in pairs and one pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the upper wall thereof and the other pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the lower wall thereof in one position of said insulating body and being reversely positioned when said insulating body is rotated through an angle of 180 whereby the electrical conducting material will electrically connect one of the said pairs either when the body of conducting material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or when the conducting material has melted and has flowed to and is adjacent the lower wall of said container; means electrically connectable, alternatively, either to the upper pair of said electrical conducting members or the lower pair of said electrical conducting members whereby a circuit may be closed either when said meltable material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or adjacent the lower wall thereof, and means for positioning said last named means whereby connection is made, alternatively, either to the upper pair of said electrical conducting members or to the lower pair of said electrical conducting members.

3. A thermal circuit controller, including, in

combination: a container provided with two connecting chambers, one of said chambers a fusible metal containing chamber having an upper and a lower wall, and the other of said chambers an insulating body containing chamber, said insulating body container chamber being provided with means for positioning an insulating body in one position and in another position 180 rotatively removed therefrom; a body of electrical conducting material of predetermined melting point positionable adjacent the upper wall of said container and flowable by gravity to a position adjacent the lower wall of said container when heated to a predetermined temperature; an insulating body positioned in said insulating body chamber and provided with means cooperating with the insulating body positioning means of said insulating body chamber; a plurality of electrical conducting members carried by said insulating body, said conducting members arranged in pairs and one pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the upper wall thereof and the other pair projecting from said insulating body into said fusible metal chamber adjacent the lower wall thereof in one position of said insulating body and being reversely positioned when said insulating body is rotated through an angle of 180 whereby the electrical conducting material will electrically connect one of the said pairs either when the body of conducting material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or when the conducting material has melted and has flowed to and is adjacent the lower wall of said container; means electrically connectable, alternatively, either to the upper pair of said electrical conducting members or the lower pair of said electrical conducting members whereby a circuit may be closed either when said meltable material is adjacent the upper wall of said container or adjacent the lower wall thereof, and means for positioning said last named means whereby connection is made, alternatively, either to the upper pair of said electrical conducting members or to the lower pair of said electrical conducting members; and means for retaining the means for making electrical connection to one of said pairs of electrical conducting members in either one of its alternative positions.

FREDERICK KUNST VAN ALMELO, 

